Wreaths Across America

Wednesday

Dec 18, 2013 at 3:00 PM

More than 600 wreaths were placed on the graves of fallen U.S. military veterans Saturday morning at Fort Lyon National Cemetery, Las Animas / Bent County Cemetery and Peaceful Valley Cemetery in celebration of the seventh annual Wreaths Across America campaign in Las Animas.

By Joe Zemba

More than 600 wreaths were placed on the graves of fallen U.S. military veterans Saturday morning at Fort Lyon National Cemetery, Las Animas / Bent County Cemetery and Peaceful Valley Cemetery in celebration of the seventh annual Wreaths Across America campaign in Las Animas.
Body type J: Similar celebrations took place at hundreds of sites nationwide and overseas in continuing a 20-plus year tradition of honoring fallen American veterans.
Begun in 1992 at Arlington national Cemetery by Maine businessman Morill Worcester, the Wreaths Across America organization laid its one-millionth remembrance wreath last year and is represented by more than 800 participating locations in all 50 states and nearly 30 locations overseas. It is estimated that Wreaths Across America laid between 355,000 and 400,000 wreaths across the country.
Organized locally by the Las Animas Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary #2411, the program has grown significantly from seven free wreaths placed in 2006 to over 300 in 2011, and over 600 in 2012 and 2013.
Body type J: Of the wreaths placed locally, 60 went to the Las Animas / Bent County Cemetery, three to Peaceful Valley Cemetery, and the remainder to Fort Lyon National Cemetery.
VFW Auxiliary member and event organizer Karen VanEgmond, was quoted in years past as saying, “My goal is to get a wreath on every soldier's grave at Fort Lyon and Las Animas before I die,” a feat she has seen grow closer each year.
Body type J: “”This project is only possible from generous support from the community,” added VanEgmond.
“Originally we wanted to honor our country's veterans with a gesture we felt would be a small symbol of appreciation. We chose Arlington National Cemetery because it was in the nation's capitol and when vistors came to their loved one's gravesites at the holidays, they would see they were not forgotten,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We never dreamed our small gesture would become a national tradition. We are overwhelmed with the support and patriotic gesture by people from all over the country.”
As part of the local ceremony, the Las Animas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2411 provided the color guard, Colorado Wing, Civil Air Patrol, and Pueblo Eagles placed wreaths for the ceremony, the Knights of Columbus provided the honor guard, and the American Legion/Las Animas Post #6 and Ordway post #94 provided the 21 gun salute. The speaker for the event was Fernando Vasquez, Fort Lyon National Cemetery Technician with music provided by Mardonna Moreland and blessings by Rod Coulter, pastor of the Seed & Supply Church. Wreaths for the ceremony were provided by the Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine.